Higher Pollinator Biodiversity in Organic Farms

Jun 10, 2014

Photo Credit: Bob Peterson

Several studies have shown that organic farming is beneficial for bees, but a recent study published in Animal Conservation takes a new perspective on ways that organic farming contributes to pollinator health. The study looked at the interaction between plants and pollinators, to see if insect-flower interactions were higher on organic farms. Specifically, they looked at the number of visits pollinators made to flowers in organic vineyards compared with conventional vineyards. They found that organically managed vineyards had significantly higher numbers of interactions between pollinators and flowers than those managed conventionally. The increased abundance of flowering plants growing in organic farms contributed to this finding. This study shows that organic farming will be critical for maintaining pollinator biodiversity in the future. The study authors conclude that “Our results support the importance of less-intensive farming for promoting biodiversity. Approaches such as organic farming are especially beneficial for important interaction networks that drive the process of maintaining biodiversity.”